Poll: Anyone using coiled instrument cables?

[mapleglo]

How does the record player sound into the Quilter stack?

Not a record player - a super audio CD player. And it sounds great!

 

[Jim C]

I occasionally use a Radio Shack coiled cable on top of my amp with one effect at rehearsal but never on a gig.

Truth or Fiction -
1. Coiled cords have increased capacitance and roll off a bit of high end?
2. Jimi used coiled cords; maybe to roll of some highs?

 

[tb-player]

Truth or Fiction -
1. Coiled cords have increased capacitance and roll off a bit of high end?
2. Jimi used coiled cords; maybe to roll off some highs?

I read both of those facts in my Google research. If it’s on the internet, it must be true.

 

[mapleglo]

Coiled cords have increased capacitance and roll off a bit of high end?

Since my hearing has rolled off over the years, using a coiled cord sounds no different to me compared with using a straight cord.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Cool/retro looking, but heavier and much harder to pack and store.

 

[LBS-bass]

Recently, I’ve noticed a bit of a resurgence of coiled instrument cables. I was curious, so I did some digging and found that they’re believed to be useful to help bleed some high end off the signal, since the cable is significantly longer to accommodate the coils. Personally, I just think they look cool... kind of retro.

I’m curious who here uses coiled cables and why/why not. As a bonus, do you have a preferred length for whatever cable you do use?

View attachment 4889176

That picture effectively illustrates why I don't prefer them. They are always in my way. Straight cables lay flat on the floor and are much less a trip hazard when I'm trying to get from my groove-spot next to the drummer up to the mic.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Straight. And well worth a close listen before buying.

 

[_Some Dude]

I've used coil cords off and on for years. I like them when I'm plugged straight into the amp, not really a fan of them when I'm using a pedalboard.

The thin telephone ones like in the OPs picture are crap. They stretch out and get tangled up in everything, especially themselves.

The heavier duty ones I can ball up and throw in my gig bag without tangling. If anything, they tangle less than straight cables since they don't twist themselves up into knots as I move around. I also like that they expand/contract as I move, and I never step on them since they don't touch the ground.

I consider the weight of them a bonus as it counters neck dive.

I occasionally use a Radio Shack coiled cable on top of my amp with one effect at rehearsal but never on a gig.

Truth or Fiction -
1. Coiled cords have increased capacitance and roll off a bit of high end?
2. Jimi used coiled cords; maybe to roll of some highs?

1. I don't think modern coil cables have more capacitance per foot, but it's way easier to have 35+ feet of cable when it's only 5 feet long. It's not so much that the extra length rolls off high end, it loads down passive pickups, which lowers their resonant peak and can make them sound thicker (works on passive basses too).

2. He did, but I think most of the stories were Stevie Ray Vaughan, who I'm pretty sure complained about regular cables "letting too much electricity through" or something like that.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I have used coiled cords exclusively after losing a Monster Bass cable.

I connect to the pedal board and really don’t have any issues.

The MonsterCable was alive and attacked my feet constantly.

When I lost it, I tried something different and never looked back.

Being the coiled cord is heavier, it keeps in place better for me.

Have a fancy light blue one for my studio.

I like them.

 

[Hummergeist]

Can't stand coiled cables. The only instance I have now is on a pair of Sony headphones, and that's probably why I use my AKGs more often. Coiled cables are heavy and more prone to getting tangled with other stuff. btw I play EUB on a stand mostly these days, yet I'm still interested in a wireless setup. To have a cable free studio/stage setup is a beautiful dream.

 

[Geri O]

Wireless, baby!

I can be such a klutz on stage, so no cables to trip over is a big benefit.

I’ll use a straight cable for sit-down or very small, quiet gigs. If I have to….

 

[2strings2frets]

I tried one coiled cable as an experiment. I found the pull on the instrument to be distracting and when I sold my heavy all tube amp head for two class D’s I found that they are too light weight to stay in place on the stack with the coils extended. I use straight cables only now.

 

[Clipped]

I prefer the straight, but I bring out the coils to jam with my nephew (trying to be the cool retro uncle).

 

[Watchootognbout]

I think I had one 40 years ago.

 

[mikeswals]

Hate the way they looked back in the day, still hate the way they look today.
Ontop of that, tugging at the output and input jacks with the weight and tension never seems like a good idea.

 

[JimmyM]

I don’t like cables that cheat you out of length by being coiled.

 

[BioDriver]

I have A coiled cable that I run from my guitar's wah pedal to its little practice amp a few feet away. Anything more than that and I don't see the allure.

I don’t like cables that cheat you out of length by being coiled.

Jimmy gets it

 

[MD]

Coiled instrument cables are the next step in no slip clothes lines.

 

[rob_thebassman]

Never put much thought into getting a coiled cable to be honest, always used straight cables

 

[TimboZ]

I have 2 Lava coil cables. A bit pricey but they hold up great. Over 6 years on my every day cable.